Combat Art exhibition

In a week when media coverage of the Royal Marines has shown graphically how the stresses of living and working in a war zone can overflow into uncontrolled emotion, it is appropriate that the Combat Art exhibition opens in Taunton. Former Commanding Officer of 40 Commando Col Alan Hooper, who himself kept a diary while on operational duty, feels that this type of project is important as a way of releasing the ‘emotional build up’ service men and women face when at war.

’It doesn’t surprise me it’s come from the Royal Marines. They have an ability to do the unusual, do the unexpected and they show great initiative and this actually links with the sort of itch they have to scratch…As an artistic exhibition I think it’s unique, but I also applaud what it does to help deal with the emotions that can build up under the extreme tensions of battle.’

Eddie Conway, a serving Royal Marine, is one of the artists exhibiting their work at the Combat Art exhibition in Taunton. Pictured here with his favourite of the works he’s created.

The idea for the Combat Art project was conceived by Royal Marine widow Anita St John Gray and became a reality with the help and support of a variety of people from the Royal Marines, including the former Commanding Officers at 40 Commando, Col M.J.A Jackson RM, who was recently awarded the DSO, and Col Alan Hooper RM, who acted as military advisors, with artistic advice coming from artists Jon England, Tim Martin and Stuart Rosamond, who also acted as the exhibition curators.

Pictured: Anita St John Gray who had the original idea for Combat Art, former Commanding Officer at 40 Commando, Col Alan Hooper, who along with Royal Marine, Col M.J.A Jackson, advised on the project, and artist Jon England who worked with his former lecturers from Somerset College, Stuart Rosamond and Tim Martin, to curate and develop the project.

500 Marines based in Taunton were given art kits to take on their last tour of Afghanistan that were specially created for the project. The kits are made from camouflaged material, fit into a trouser pocket and contain a variety of high quality art materials. Anita St John Gray says ‘we are not sure if all the kits were used, we do know that some of the work created was too personal for some of the marines to want to show’.

This exhibition is indeed a brave exhibition to take part in. Many of us who show our work regularly are used to the critique, the rejection that often comes from putting our work on public display. We are used to thinking of Marines as brave people, but this is a bravery they will not have had training for and which may not come easily. But by allowing the public to see this work they are allowing us into their world at a level we rarely, if ever, get to see.

Artists' sketchbooks and notebooks are always of interest to me and this exhibition gives visitors an opportunity to look through some of the Marines’ books. The paper cups that became someone’s canvas are a favourite of mine.

Combat Art works by Royal Marines on their last tour of Afghanistan.

The exhibition can be seen at the West Wing of the Market House Building in the centre of Taunton from 9th – 23rd Nov, Wed to Sat, 11am – 5pm.

I would encourage you to take the time to visit the exhibition and spend some time with this extraordinary work.

Visitors to the Combart Art exhibition look at some of the artworks created in Afghanistan by the Royal Marines.